Grey polypipe - how to close-off?

[rarara]

As part of a bathroom renovation, I am going to replace the electric shower with one straight off the combi. Right now the shower is fed by a t-piece that is on the cold supply. Both the pipe and the t-piece are grey plastic 15mm without any branding etc that I can see, and maybe about 10 years old.

I want to put a blank onto the leg feeding the shower, but what do I need in terms of pipe inserts/stiffeners? Is there a universal type that will work regardless of the specific type of pipe? And any type of plastic fitting will also be suitable?

 

[Burnerman]

For piece of mind, use the correct insert but you could consider a push fit stop end, or even a brass compression one - again with the correct steel insert.
If you have no idea what brand it is, the insert needs to be a good snug fit, that you can push in by hand......if you force it in, the pipe may swell a fraction and obviously if the insert is loose, it can't be all that effective.
John

 

[rarara]

I guess the question is how do I identify if it is polypipe or not?

There will no doubt be an insert where the existing pipe connects to the electric shower, but I don't know if these are reusable so would like to buy the correct item prior to disconnecting anything.

 

[Burnerman]

That's the million dollar question, regarding the identification.
It's best not to reuse inserts but of course it really depends on how much it might have been squashed - or not.
I don't do much of this sort of stuff now, but I have a dozen or so of every insert I've come across just to get me out of a corner.....never failed yet!
John

 

[denso13]

The insert will be reusable and I would use a compression stop end. You could post a picture of the plastic fittings and someone may recognise them. Although it doesn't guarantee the pipe is the same make.

 

[ColinEvans]

If its plain grey with no metal band I'd say its either Polypipe or Hep20. Post a pic and it should be identifiable.

 

[SandyLyon]

If you use a compression stop end remember to use an insert, copper olives tend to work better than brass ones and don't use any jointing paste.
A bit of PTFE tape is ok if needed.

 

[rarara]

OK, had a closer look and its a HEP20 joint. Can I use a blank to close off one side of this T-piece, or leave a tail and a stop-end? Does this make any difference to the stiffeners used??

Untitled

• rarara
• 15 Feb 2015
• 2

 

[denso13]

You could use an elbow with the existing nuts if you get the same type or fit a stop end with the correct insert. There should be one at the end of the pipe you are disconnecting which you can reuse.

 

[nortonj]

OK, had a closer look and its a HEP20 joint. Can I use a blank to close off one side of this T-piece, or leave a tail and a stop-end? Does this make any difference to the stiffeners used??

Untitled

• rarara
• 15 Feb 2015
• 2

Thats hep 2o pipe before they changed to white.

 

[SandyLyon]

Hep20 used to do a Blanking Plug for that fitting, depending on whether it's a White or Green wedge type

I may even have one in my shed, I will have a look when I get chance

 

[Madrab]

Hope that electric box behind it aint live, that's an accident waiting to happen that is

Must say it also looks very like polypipe fittings, ripped out a whole hot supply recently done in that stuff. If it has stainless steel toothed lock ring with a rubber seal and white plastic spreading shim then it's PolyP. They do have push fit stop ends for them